Color television receiver



Oct. 26, 1954 Filed June 25, 1952 H. K. VAN JEPMOND COLOR TELEVISION RECEIVER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Proposed NTS C Synchronizing Signal F IG-. 2v l6 I 2e 7 iL P- Color Color I g l l4 Mixer use utoscillotor I Emphosmer Separator I I i i I8 ,22 a2 I.F. Second D(z c|flo|; s i g e ec lOfl Amplifier Detector System Generator Video Amplifier i e ii V INVENIOR. HOWARD K. VAN JEPMCI ND Oct. 26, 1954 VAN JEPMOND 2,692,908

COLOR TELEVISION RECEIVER Filed June 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

From LF. Stages I8 H A Detector l To Video Amp. 8 Color DefLSystem FIG.4A F|G.4B FIG.4C F|G.4D ll l2 5| From |.F. Stages 26 G 27 A 36 B' 53 I I l Sconsaon Detectur gg gfi To Video Amp.8 I Color Defl. System] I To Scan Gen.

System I 'INVENTUR. HOWARD K. VAN JEPMOND HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 26, 1954 COLQR TELEVISION RECEIVER Howard K. Van Jepmond, Chicago,

to Zenith Radio Corporation,

Illinois Ill., assignor a corporation of Application June 25, 1952, Serial No. 295,515

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a new and improved television receiver and particularly to a receiver for utilizing a composite signal containing periodic blanking intervals which include two different types of synchronizing information. The invention is especially valuable when employed in a receiver for color television signals, and is described in that connection.

During the past several years many methods and arrangements have been proposed for the transmission and reception of color television information, and a number of these proposals have been incorporated in a single television system under the auspices of the National Television System Committee. The N. T. S. C. system, which has been widely publicized and described in numerous technical publications, contemplates the resolution of a color image into three components including a brightness, or monochrome, signal and two separate color signals, the latter being substantially devoid of brightness information. The monochrome signal is transmitted over a broadcast range of frequencies in a manner generally corresponding to that employed for standard commercial black and White television. The color-control signals, on the other hand, are employed to modulate a color sub-carrier having a frequency equal to an odd harmonic of one-half the line-scanning frequency, and the resultant signal is interlaced with the monochrome signal for simultaneous transmission. The present proposed standard for this color sub-carrier frequency is 3.888125 megacycles.

In order to utilize the N. T. S. C. signal at a receiver, a reference signal comprising a continuous oscillation Wave of stable phase is required. This color reference signal enables the receiver to separate the color-control information from the transmitted composite signal. At present, it is proposed to transmit a color synchronizing signal as a burst of oscillations occurring during each horizontal blanking interval and immediately following a horizontal scansionsynchronizing pulse of the same general type as that currently utilized in monochrome transmission. This color burst is employed to regulate the phase and frequency of the locally generated color reference signal to permit intelligible reproduction of the transmitted color information.

The positioning of the color burst on the same general level with the horizontal scansion-synchronizing pulse gives rise to considerable difficulty in the construction of an adequate scanning-deflection system. The usual method of separation of the mansion-synchronizing pulses 2 comprises filtering out the color burst, which results in a Wave-form including the scansionsynchronizing pulse followed by a pedestal representing the average value of the color burst. This procedure makes it necessary for the deflection system to differentiate between the scansion pulse and the color pedestal; otherwise, the scanning system may operate erratically and unpredictably. A scansion-synchronizing system which is capable of operating above the level of the colorburst pedestal requires manufacture to exacting standards, and, in addition, is undesirably expensive when considered in relation to the economic requirements of commercial receivers.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved television receiver which is capable of differentiating between transmitted scansion-synchronizing pulses and other synchronizing information when both are included in the same amplitude portion of a composite signal.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a television receiver, capable of discriminating between scansion-synchronizing pulses and color-synchronizing information, which is see nomical to manufacture and simple and expedient to assemble.

It is a corollary object of the invention to provide a color television receiver including a synchronizing-signal analyzing network which provides positive control for preventing unpredictable and erratic operation.

The television receiver of the invention may be employed to reproduce an image in response to a composite signal including periodically recurring blanking intervals, each of the intervals comprising a scansion-synchronizing pulse and a burst of a color sub-carrier frequency signal. The scansion-synchronizing pulses and color bursts are of substantially equal peak amplitudes. The receiver includes a frequency-selective network having a substantially greater response at the color sub-carrier frequency than at the repetition frequency of the mansion-synchronizing pulses, and also includes means to apply the composite signal to that network in order to develop a first modified composite signal in which the peak amplitude of the color bursts is substantially greater than that of the mansion-synchronizing pulses. A peak clipper is coupled to the network, from which it receives the first modified composite signal; the clipper develops a second modified composite signal in which the average amplitude of the color bursts is materially reduced with respect to the peak amplitude of the scansion-synfollowing description taken in connection with the-- accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a graphical representation of a portion of the currently accepted N1 T. S. GJsynchronizing signal;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a television receiver according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a detailed schematic diagram of a portion of the receiver shown in Figure-2;

Figures 4A through 4D are fragmentary graphical representations. of' signal wave forms' ap-- pearingat various .pointsinthe circuit of Figure 3; and

Figure- 5 is a detailed schematic view of -an alternative construction for that portion ofthe receiver illustrated in Figure'3.

The wave-form of Figure-1', illustrating the present proposed standard horizontal blanking interval for-the N. T. S; C. color television system; comprises ablanking: pedestal l which ex-- tends to 1 the black level of f the composite 1 video: signal.- Two separate synchronizing signalsare superimposed upon pedestal abovelevel i5, thefirst of thesebeinga horizontal mansion-synchronizing: pulse M and} the other being a burst of a. color" sub-carrier frequency signal [2. Thecurrently accepted standardfor thefrequency of color burst l2. is--3'=898125 mc-.,

which is the 495th" harmonic ofone-half the standard line-scanning frequency of- ;750 cycles per second. In accordance withpresentv practice, the colorburst-is approximately'centered on the back'porcN ofthe-blanlcing pedestal; theexact locationof the-signalhas not asyet been permanently established and it may ultimately belocated in either greater-0r lesser proximity to scansion pulse ll. Current-stand"- ards require that the amplitude of" color burst I2 above-blankingpedestal' Ii! fall within the range from 85 to- 100 percent of theamplitude of scansion-synchrom'zing pulse H, so-that the peak amplitudes of these two synchronizing signals are substantially equal. It" is apparent that the average value of-.the amplitude of color burst I2- is, therefore,- essentiallyequal to one-half the amplitude of scansion pulse H and corresponds approximately *to the dash-dotline [3;

As noted in theforegoingdiscussion; it maybe difficult' for i the scansion deflection systemof a television receiver todifferentiate between these two synchronizing signals. Most synchronizing signal separatorsareamplitude sensitive clippers or-slicers which havea clipping-level closelycorresponding to black-level 152 It isapparent that" construction" of an eflective clipper is made far more-.difficult when the amplitude -range of'theslicer" is reduced by one-half as compared with" the range available formonochrome systems; The-problem can be solved by agating arrangement; but this is at bestan expensive and compleX- expedient.-

The color television receiver illustrated schematically in Figure 2 includes means-for obviating' any undesirableeffects which the color-'- burst might have on operation of the line-frequency scanning system. The receiver comprises an antenna 14, a radio-frequency amplifier and first detector 16, and an intermediate-frequency amplifier ll connected in turn to a second detector l8. Detector 18 includes a plurality of sets of output terminals, one of which is connected to aavi'deoiamplifier. I92; amplifier I9 is coupled in turn to the bearn generating electrode system of an image-reproducing device 21; which in this instance comprises a single-gun cathode-raytube having a tri-color image screen 20. Another of the sets of output terminals of seconddetectoritbisjcoupled to a color-deflection system 22,- to' which is connected three colordeflection coils 23; 2d and 25 associated with image-reproducing device 2 l The above-enumerated receiver components are generally well-known in the art, and a detailed description of their operation is therefore unnecessary. Brie-fly, a composite color television signal includinghorizontal: and vertical scansion -synchronizing: intervals is received at antenna l4. This signal amplified and de tected in amplifier-detector it and. further amplified in intermediate-frequency. amplifier H whence thecomposite signalis applied" to see 0nd detector 18, Tin-detector lit; the signal is reduced to" a composite video 1 signal including brightness and color informationas'-well as scansion-synchronizing information; but free of I the transmission carrier frequency. The output ofdetector 98* is applied to video-amplifier l9} wherein the brightness-- information isamplifi'ed; the output-ofamplifie-r- I9 is employed-to" control the electron beam generating system" of cathode ray 1 tube 2! i and thus determines-the beam intensity; of the reproduced image in' accordance with the" picture content: The out-- put of detector l8*is also-- applied to a color deflection system,- inwhich the color-contro-l= signals are'separatecl from" the monochrome in formation and are applied to coils 23"-25 tocontrol the angular" deflection of the electron beam of device 21 and thus regulate the color content of the reproduced" image. l-rsingletube single-gun system has been illustrated solely for convenience in presentation; it-shoul l be understood that this" part of the receiver may; be Varied" to include three-gun single-tube and three-tube arrangements; for example; without departing from the teaching of the invention.

The receiver also includes a scanning control system coupled to" second detector I81 This-system" comprises colorpre-emphasizen 25'- connected to the detector, the pre-emphasizer in turn beingcoupledto,a'peak clipper 21. A scan-- sion-synchronizing pulse separator" 28" is" coupled to the output-terminalsofclipper-2i"and-to the inputterminals; of a scanning generator" 32; the output of the scanning generatorbeing "con nected'to a. pair of scanningdeflection coils 2-9} and 3|" positioned" to control the vertical and horizontal scansiorr of the" electron beam" of" image reproducer" 2 l Coils 29"and-' 31, as well as color-deflection coils 23; 2'4; may; be replaced" by" suitable electrostatic-deflection electrodes if this method of b'eamcontrol is: preferred:

When the -receiveris placed inoperation; the output signal of 'detector -I8- is"modified"by pre emphasizer-2 6* and fed to clipper 27, wherein itis"further-modifi'ed; as more completely described" hereinafter in connection with Figures=3 5i The doublymodified composite signal appearing atthe output of clipper 21 1s appliedto separator 2'8i 5. which the horizontal and vertical scansion-synchronizing pulses are separated from the composite signal and from each other. These synchronizing pulses are then individually applied to scanning generator 32, wherein they are employed to control the generation of suitable scanning signals which are applied to deflection coils 29 and 3i. Separator 28 and generator system 32 may be of any of the well-known types currently in use for monochrome television reception.

The circuit diagram of Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of the scanning-control system of the invention. In that embodiment, one output terminal of second detector [8 is coupled to the control grid 32, of a pentode amplifier tube 35 through a capacitor 36. A clamping diode 31 and a grid resistor 38 are connected in parallel between control electrode 34 and ground, and the cathode 39 of amplifier 35 is also coupled to ground through a resistance-capacitance biasing circuit. The anode 4| of tube 35 is connected to a source of positive unidirectional operating potential 3-]- through a parallel-resonant inductance-capacitance circuit 42 tuned to the color sub-carrier frequency of 3.898+ mc. Anode 4| is also coupled to the anode 43 of a diode 44, with the cathode it of the diode connected to potential source 5+ through a resistor 4'! and to ground through a resistor 48. Cathode 46 is also coupled to scansion pulse separator 28. A parallel-tuned inductance-capacitance circuit 49 may be included in the input separator 28,- circuit 49 is adjusted to resonate at the color subcarrier frequency of 3898+ megacycles.

Figures 4A through 413 have been included to indicate the approximate wave-forms of the composite signal at various points in the circuit of Figure'B, and are referred to from time to time in the ensuing description of the operation of that circuit. When the receiver is placed in operation, the output of detector I8 appearing at point A in Figure 3 is represented by the waveform of Figure 4A, in which the peak amplitudes of mansion-synchronizing pulse I! and color burst l2 are substantially equal. This wave form corresponds to that of Figure 1, with video information included as at 5!. The signal of Figure 4A is applied to grid 34 of amplifier tube 35, the D. C. level of the signal being maintained constant by the action of clamper diode 37. The

entire signal is amplified to a certain extent by device 35, but color burst I2 is amplified considerably more than scansion-synchronizing pulse 1 I, due to the presence of tuned circuit 42 in the output circuit of the amplifier. Thus, the output of pre-emphasizer 26 appearing at point B assumes the configuration shown in Figure 4B, in which the color burst is substantially greater in peak amplitude than the scansion-synchronizing pulse.

This first modified composite signal is applied to anode 43 of diode M. Diode M, in conjunction with resistors M and 43, functions as a conventional peak clipper and materially reduces the amplitude of color burst l2, preferably to a point where it is approximately equal to the peak amplitude of pulse H. The clipping level is determined by the relative values of resistors 41, 48. This action results in the production of a second modified composite signal appearing at the point C in the output of clipper 21, the general configuration of this second modified composite signal being illustrated in Figure 4C. As is apparent from Figure 40, the average amplitude of color burst ii! at the output of peak clipper 21 is materially reduced with respect to the peak amplitude of pulse II, and may even fall below black level I5. The signal of Figure 4C is applied to scansion-synchronizing pulse separator 28 through tuned circuit 48, the wave-form at the output of the tuned circuit being generally illustrated in Figure 4D. This signal, which appears at point D in Figure 3, no longer contains the high frequency color sub-carrier components, but retains only a pulse l2 representing the average value of the modified color burst l2 and having an amplitude suificiently lower than the peak amplitude of pulse II to preclude any possibility of adversely affecting the operation of subsequent stages of the scanning system. The reduction of the modified form of color burst l2 appearing in Figure 4G to the color pedestal l2 of Figure 4D is due to the high series impedance of parallel resonant circuit 49 at the color sub-carrier frequency and the relatively low series impedance of that circuit at the mansion-synchronizing pulse frequency. In succeeding stages of separator 28, the scansion-synchronizing pulses II are separated from the composite signal by a clipper or slicer having a clipping level between black level l5 and the peak amplitude of pulse l l.

Portions of video information 51 which are in the same frequency range as color burst l2 may also be distorted as by the operation of circuits 26 and 21 and filter 49 in the same manner as the color burst. However, the net effect on these components of video information 5! is substantially the same as the effect on color burst I 2, and therefore does not adversely affect the operation of the scansion-synchronizing system. The apparatus disclosed in Figure 3 and the foregoing description are based upon the assumption that the composite signal developed in detector 18 comprises a. series of positive variations with respect to a reference potential. For those cases where the output of detector l8 comprises a variable signal of negative polarity, the circuits of.

pre-emphasizer 26 and clipper 27 must be changed in order to conform to this type of signal; however, such changes will be obvious to those skilled in the art and therefore need not be described herein.

The circuit illustrated in Figure 5 comprises a modified construction for pre-emphasizer 26 and clipper 21 of Figure 2. In this embodiment of the invention, the output of detector [8 is coupled to the cathode 53 of a diode 54 through capacitor 36 and a series resistor 56. Clamper diode 37 is coupled to the junction of resistor 56 and capacitor 36, whereas tuned circuit 42 is interposed between resistor 56 and a resistor 51, resistor 5! being connected to ground. The anode 58 of diode 54 is coupled to separator 28 and is also connected to ground and to a negative potential source B- through resistors 48 and 47 respectively.

The signal applied to pre-emphasizer 26 corresponds to that of Figure 4A, this wave-form appearing at point A in the circuit. The presence of resonant circuit 42 in the output circuit of preemphasizer 26 serves to accentuate the amplitude of color burst [2 with respect to pulse l I, and as a result the Wave-form appearing at point B corresponds to that of Figure 43, with the exception that the wave-form in this case is not inverted. Thus the network shown for pre-emphasizer 26 in Figure 5 performs the same basic function as that illustrated in Figure 3, except that no amplification is achieved. Where amplification is unnecessary or undesirable at this anemone;

clipper; 27 corresponds to that ofiFiguralGgex 1.0

ceptsfor the difference.inpolarity. Thisssignal; is; as-before applied; to separator 28;'which-extracts. :the scansion-synchronizing; pulses; for application to. the scanning generator system.-

While particular embodimentsof thepresent' l5.-

invention have been shown and; described. it. is apparent: that changes and modifications. maybe maderwithout departing. from.-the invention: in: its, broaderaspects, and, therefore,- theaim in the appendedlclaims is to. ,cover; all .=su ch. changes: and 20;

modifications as falll within the: true spirit. and. scope-of, theinventiom lclaimzi l. a, A television receiver: for utilizing a l compose its signal including 'pfiriodically recurring; blank- 2'5 ing intervals each of whichlcomprisesia 5.03.1'15101'1'7 synchronizing pulse anda. burst of a colorsubcarrier frequency signal having.- substantially equal. amplitudes,v said receiver comprising: a: frequencyiselectivenetwork; includinglaeresonant. 30v circuit, having. a-v resonance frequency substans' tiallyv equal to said. color-subcarrier frequency,

havinga. substantially; greater response. at said color-subcarrier frequency than. atthe repetition frequency of saidscansion-synchronizing pulses; 35'

meansior applying said compositesignal tosaid network. to. develop; afirst modified compositesignalinlwhich the peak amplitude of said color bursts is, substantially, greater than that of. saidscansion-synchronizing. pulses; a. peak clipper 402- coupled to. said network. for receiving. said first, modified composite signal .and developing therefrom .a second modified composite signalin which the; average amplitude ofxsaidtcolor bll1'StS1-lSma|-r teriallyreduced with I respect to. the peak, amplie- 45 tude of said.-scansionesynchronizing pulses; anda scansion-synchronizing pulse separatoncoupled. to said peak clipperfor-receiving saidsecond modified. composite, signal. and separating: said scansionssynchronizing pulses therefrom,- 5

2. A, television. receiver! for utilizing a, compos-- ite. signal including periodicallyrecurring blank-7 ing intervals each lof= which comprises a':scansion.-- synchronizing. pulse; and: a. burst. of a 00101? subcarrier-frequencysignal having substantially 5 equal.- amplitudes,-, said receiver comprising: a frequency selective network, including a resonant circuit havin a, resonance frequency substantially equal, to said colorrsubcarrier frequency,

having? a; substantially greater response.-: at; said: colorr-subcarrier frequency; than :at the repetition frequency of said: mansion-synchronizin ulses; means for applying said composite signal -,to said network to develop a. first modified composite; signal inwhich the peak amplitude ofisaidvcolor." bursts is.- substantially greater thanthat'ofsaid-= scansion-synchronizing pulses; a peak clipper coupled to'said network for receiving said first; modified composite signal and developing there-- from asecondtmodified composite-signal ,inlwhich the average amplitude of said colorbursts,-.is.ma-=- terially. reduced with respect" to the peak..ampli--- tude of said scansion-synchronizing pulses; a. filter. circuit coupled to'said. peak clipper fon re:- ceivingsaidsecond modified composite signal. and developingtherefrom athird modified com posite signal in which the peak amplitude ofgsaids color bursts is reduced to their average ampliatude; and a scansion-synchronizing pulse sepae rator coupled to said filtercircuitiforl-receiving, said third modified composite signal andisepa rating said mansion-synchronizing pulses therefrom.

3. Atelevision receiver for. utilizing a,..comp,os.-.- ite signalincluding periodically recurringblank-r ing intervals each of which comprises a.-.scansio n=-- synchronizing. pulse and a. burst of. av color.-= subcarrier frequency signal having substantially, equal amplitudes, said receiver. comprising a. frequency-selective amplifier, including, a. reso-v nant circuit having. a. resonance frequency. sub: stantially equal to said color-subcarrier frequency, having a. substantially. greaterresponse, at i said. color-subcarrier. frequency than ati..the

repetition frequency. of said scansionesynchroe nizing pulses; means. for. applying saidlcomposit'e, signal'to saidamplifier to developa first'modifiedl. compositesignalin whichthe peak amplitudeofj said color burstsis substantially increasedwith. respect. to. that. of said scansionesynchronizing, pulses; a peak clipper coupled to said amplifier for receiving saidfirst modified compositesignal'. and developing therefrom a second modified com: posite signal in which theaverage amplitudeof 1' said color, bursts is materially reduced. with respect to the peak amplitude of. saidiscansionsynchronizing. pulses; and a scansion-syncl'ironizing pulse separator coupled to said-peak clipper, for receivingsaid second modified composite signal and separating said scansion-synclironizing pulses therefrom.

Name Date..- Labin Jan..3.0, 1951.

Number 

